Mail box



June 25, 19 29.

"F. w. MATHIS 1.718.471

MAIL BOX Filed April so, 1926 Z'SheetsJ-Sheet 1 June/ nto;

WIT/188626 FfiDER/C/f HZ MA Til/J.

61cm may u 1929. F. w., MATHIS 1,718.47!

I mm. Box Filed April 30, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ Q a2 6f Mfflespes v Wt'DFR/CK 7/7/5 y to a post 6 at one end and a brace 7 is at- Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK W. MATHIS, OF EVERGREEN, VIRGINIA.

MAIL BOX.

Application filed April 30, 1926. Serial No. 105,868.

The present invention relates to mail boxes and has for its principal object to provide a device of this nature incorporating signaling means to notify persons when the mail is delivered to the receiving box. Both an audible and visual signal is provided within the dwelling and is electrically connected with a circuit closer within the mail box so that when the door thereof is opened the audible signal-will be sounded and the visual signal moved to an operative position. The audible signal will be shut off when the door of the box is again closed but the visual signal will remain operative until reset.

Another very important object of the inventicn is to provide a device of this nature having a very simple and e'fiicient construction which is reliable, inexpensive to manufacture and install, durable, strong, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

lVith the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, showing the complete apparatus,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the box,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof,

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrow, and

Figure 5 is a detail section through the signal housing showing the visual signal inits operative position. I

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that 5 represents the'box for receiving the mail. This box 5 is preferably fixed tached to the outer end thereof at itsbottom as at 8 while the other end of this brace is fixed to the post as at 9. A battery box 10 is attached to the bottom of the box 5 and contains dry cells 11. The box 5 at its outer end is provided with a hinged closure 12 beingpivoted at its bottom end as at 13 and normally held closed by a clip 1-1. A latch-lock 15 is provided in association with the door of the box 5 rather than the padlock which is commonly used. A handle 16 is at the free upper end of the door so that I strike the panel so it may be pulled to an open position after the latch 15 has been released. closer indicated generally at C is mounted in the box 5 and consists of a base 17 having three upstanding ears 18 one of which at the inner end supports a push button 19 while the other two are pierced to receive a rod 20 having a spring 21 thereon between the cars to normally hold it out of engagement with the button or push button 19. A lever 22 is pivoted intermediate its ends to a side of the box in such a position that by swinging the same it will engage the push rod 20 to force it into engagement with the button of the push button 19 and close a circuit which will be hereinafter described. Links 23 and 26 are pivoted together at the former be ing connected to the door 12 and the latter to the upper end of the lever 22 so that when the door 12 is opened the lever will be swung to engage the push rod 20 and actuated as stated above. A signal box 27 is preferably located interiorly of'the dwelling and' has mounted therein a relay 28, one or more dry cells 29, an audible signal 30 in the form of an electric bell, and a visual signal 31 which is constructed so that it may extend, through the opening 32 provided in the signal box 27. This visual signal is mounted on a spring strip 83 which is connected to the inner end of a lever 34 which extends through an opening provided in the box 27 below opening 32, being pivoted in this opening and having on its outer por tion a weight 36. This weight 36 is slidable on the lever being held in place by a set screw 37 so that it may be adjustable for normally holding the signal 31 extended out of the housing as is shown in Figure To hold the signal in the housing it is pushed therein and then the spring swung to one side toward the bell so that the tip 38 engages the wall of the box at a point laterally beyond the opening 32. When the electric bell is actuatedthe hammer39 thereof will as. to spring it back in registry with the opening 32 and the weight on the lever will then swing said lever so as to force the signal to its operative or ou wardly extending position. The batteries 11, push button 19 and relay 28'areconnected by conductors 45. Lightning arresters 4-3 are arranged in the conductors 415, and are grounded by conductors 44. The relay 2S. battery 29 and bell 30 are connected by con ductors 46 and 47.

A circuit 1 claim as neW'is:

The box is (lesignel to receive the mail to be collected?byQt'l'ic cai ieiganflfivill be! referred to hereinafter as the 'oiitgoinginail. This box is mounted at one end on the box 5 and a brace 5151 attached atits l'ower' end to box 5 and is attached to the other end of box 50 thus supporting this boxtoone side of the box 5. A shield 52 depends from the front of the box. A'hin'g'ed cover 53 is provided on the box by means of and extends ICMWELIdlY thereof; ratchet rod 56 is hinged to"rocl "iat 57 and the ratchet teeth 58 thereof are adapted to engage at latch 59 actuated adjacent ani open} in 60 in ext-ensioi'i '61 projecting rearwardly from box 50. hen the cover 5.3 isfopened the teeth 58 of the ratehet bai "will lie engaged by the latch 59 so as in cover in it's open position; It. Will. be seei that in order to haveaccess to the latch 59 to release itit is necessaryv to come to the rear of the boxesbecause of'shield 52.

and thus when the mail carrieris'elects the mail and finds that lie caiinotneasi ly elose this cover he will not pilt therein thein coming mail but at a glance w illtind, that a separate box hasibe'en prov dedfor that purpose. A shaft '62i's. vpivotedtto oneend of the box 50 aridsupports alsignal in the form ofla flag '63' whicli ma placed 1 in the upright position as ShOWIl ll lflElgtll Q 2 resting against lug 65, on the c overq This signal in'its upright position vvillindicate to the mail, carrierith'a t there is outo going mail in the box. but whemthe cover, is opened the lug Willfeause vs gnai to. swing tothe dottedli'n'e position in E-rguree '2 thus to a: nonj-indicatingtro l'lQll figllgl zngi position engaging lug; 'anclQt-hus indicate; that no niail is in. the llhis willialso 1 indicate to the persons 'infthe divel-ling thati the mail hasibeen colleotedsf. i:

.i if) 11 ltris thought that the construetion'oit the: invention' will now be clearly, under stoodwithout any more detailed description there- Of. I lVhile the preferred embodimentgof. ny invention has been deseribed .ini clctail,; Vite will be understood that l'do not tobe limited, to the, particular constnuction; set i forth, since various changes inthe form, ma; teri'al, proportions amt-arrangement of parts and in the details ofl con'struction be resorted to Without departing from the: spirit and scope ofithe invention or-destroyring" any of its advantages;

Havingthus described my.

' invention, what 1. A signal of the charactersetY-fmfith comprising abox provided withan opening,

a signalling member, nieaps si ippprting the signalling IDGIlIBiIilt fort movement; intoi and out of the box tl irouglrsaid' opening, said means also supporting the signalling nieinbeirvf'on'movementwhen -iii the box to a position beyond the opening and in contact with the'inner side of the box, means associated with said first means for holding the signalling ineiiib'er'i'fisaid box contacting position; andmeans adapted. tobe operated to o e-[the signalling member out of said box; ,coi itaeting position and", into registration Withftlief opening, and said. second means beingadaptec l to, move the: signalling ine nloer Qth ro igH tl e ,opening when said. member is i'nozvedinto registrationv with the opening. I

, 2 A signal; of the pharacter set forth, comprising a. boxprovided with an. opening, a signalling}member,snieans supporting the signalling memherlormovement into and; outof, the box through said opening, said means also supporting the signalling member; fon movement. when in the box to; a point, l at eiiallg beyond the opening and in Contact. with the; inner side of: the 1 box, means assoeiated first means 'toi holding the s igiial linginiember in said vliox contactis Positi ns eed c r ea lyi pneitate a -m adapted when energized tomove theusignailing member. ut ot said b ox contacting positionr and into: registi ationi T vitli; the f opening, and said, second means being adapta ed to. 4II'10YQ the, signalling member; through the opening I said iiiemberis-moiied i inf;

.lever, a signalling memberi secured: atone:

end to the ippeit'end of. the spring andextending therefron i in the direction; of 'said Wall the free end of the; signalling member coii't-actingwith; they inneii side: of said I wan, and; aii veighti ,seciiredi to I the outer end of the levlj V and, adapted toi hold'ltlie: signalling member' in saidi position, -.=the hammer of the hell i bein'gadaptedu when; thelatter is' energized i to. move: the; signalling: member. 13110; :iegistration with: the opening, and the" Weighti being-adapted to: thereafter move the {signalling member through the opening.vv

In testimonymvhereof afiix. my signature 

